Batting

Tiffany Hawley hit a three home run in game one to lift the University of Mount Olive to a 7-3 win and 9-7 doubleheader split against Belmont Abbey College Saturday afternoon in Belmont, N.C. for Conference Carolinas Softball. Kristin Power went 3-for-4 in game two to help lead the offense.

Game One: Mount Olive 7 Belmont Abbey 3

Mount Olive (22-15 Overall, 9-4 Conference Carolinas) got base runners in the first after two errors put runners on first and second, but three straight putouts ended the first. Belmont Abbey (16-20, 10-5) plated the first run in game one on an RBI-double by McConnell.

The top of the third began with a single by Kelsey Akers. Beth Overman singled to right and Akers took third. Akers was tagged out at home after a double steal failed and Overman was safe at second. Lindsey Russell drew a walk and Hawley cleared the bases with a home run to left to give Mount Olive a 3-1 lead.

Belmont Abbey's fifth began after a Alexis Pereiro single. Jena Reisenauer's two out double scored Pereiro. Dani Marietta came in to pinch run and scored on a single to center and the Crusaders tied the game.

Power led off the Trojan sixth with a home run to center field. Ashleigh Mason drew a walk and was eliminated on a Akers fielder's choice. Akers stole second and ended up on third after a wild pitch. Overman walked and stole second to set up Russell for a RBI as Russell reached on a fielding error. After a strikeout, Lauren McGrath walked and Russell moved to second.

Two runners reached for Belmont Abbey in the seventh but the side was retired after two singles and Mount Olive took game one.

Madison Johnston (12-3) picked up the win tossing a complete game three run, seven hit game. She also struck out six.

Shannon Mas (2-5) got the loss in relief as she went the final two innings and allowed four runs off five hits and struck out three.

Game Two: Mount Olive 7 Belmont Abbey 9

Belmont Abbey used a five run fifth inning to secure the game two win.

The Crusaders (17-20, 11-5) took the first two runs of the game on back-to-back singles by Anna Mixa and Amber Faust.

Mount Olive (22-16, 9-5) tied the game in the top of the second as Power doubled home McGrath with two away. Talyor Carter reached on a fielding error to move Power to third. Power then stole home and tied the game at two.

The game was broken in the third as two runs scored for Belmont Abbey on a wild pitch and a RBI-double by Shanie McConnell.

The Trojans looked to regain the lead in the fourth as Power reached on a throwing error. Carter doubled to center and Power cruised into third. Akers singled one home Power to move the defect to 4-3. A sacrifice bunt by Russell scored Carter and moved Akers to third. Hawley singled to left and brought home Akers. A McGrath walked allowed Becker to plate one more off a RBI-single to center and Mount olive took a 6-4 lead.

It took Belmont Abbey until the fifth to have the big inning. A bases loaded sacrifice fly by Brooke Pegram scored the first run of the inning. Pereiro scored the tying run after a wild pitch with a single past third. An off the mark throw allowed two runs to come home and the Crusaders took the lead. A double by Sloane McPeak added the final run of the inning to push the Crusaders out 9-6.

Jennifer Jones pinch hit in the seventh for Mound Olive and promptly hit a triple to give the Trojans a shot at a comeback. Power singled her home on the next pitch and the offense looked to be rolling. Mason pinch ran for Power and made it all the way to third however could not be brought home as the final outs were record and the Trojans fell in game two.

Kylie Ward (0-1) picked up the loss in relief as she allowed three runs, two earned on two hits.

Samantha Jacobs (7-9) got the win for the Crusaders. She went five complete and allowed six runs, four earned, off eight hits and struck out three.

Mount Olive will stay on the road as the team will head to Pfeiffer tomorrow, Sunday April, 12. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.